Tis' the season for knock offs (observation/rant)

[SUPERJET-113]

Just noticing all the knock off composite parts here and over at PWCT lately. Most I have seen looks like crap and nothing like the quality of the original manufacturer.
Then there are the ones who blatantly say its a copy of "X brand" company. That is just totally wrong and makes me puke. Its obvious these people dont care and just want to make a quick buck. I dont know, maybe its for extra money for presents for Christmas.
The ones I see doing quality composite work keep the parts for themselves or maybe will make a part for a friend, but not trying to mass market them.

But what about the larger companies? What about the larger and more complex parts that are being made by these companies? I'm not just talking the composite parts either, but other engine parts and accessories that they make? These knock off artists probably think "Hell, I'm just making these little parts and selling them. That's not going to hurt the big "X brand" company". Well if there get to be too many rip off artists, that could very well happen. These little parts are a lot their "bread and butter". Do these people care? I doubt it.
But hey, its free enterprise right? Yeah, it sure is COPYCAT!! "Gitr' done"!!!

I think this sport is to small for this and I know the old saying about you can only reinvent the wheel so many times over and its called capitalism, free enterprise, blah blah blah.
There is nothing wrong with making your own parts, but be original and change it by 20% and make it better if you can.

I can think of a couple new companies right now(not naming names) that makes a lot of the composite parts that have been around for a long time on freestyle boats, but they have changed them with their own designs and ingenuity and they are "original" now and IMO from what I have seen they are a better design and function better. THIS is what I am talking about. This is how it should be done. Not just rip off someones idea and sell it for cheap.

Man, if I owned a company like WCF, Wamiltons, Blowsion, Bun,etc. I would be pissed.

Anyways, fire away!!:Banane36: :rocketwhore:

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

the only way the big companies can combat that, is to make better parts for cheaper.

easily made parts sold at high profit margins will always have this type of copycat competition, and will generally get beaten by cheaper parts.

 

[njfl]

The other thing that happens when you buy these knock-off products is that you lose the quality customer service of the big guys in our sport. :stups:

I do have to say, with the knock-offs you have to be careful, but, right or wrong, they do help to keep monopolies from happening.

 

[SUPERJET-113]

the only way the big companies can combat that, is to make better parts for cheaper.
easily made parts sold at high profit margins will always have this type of copycat competition, and will generally get beaten by cheaper parts.

I agree lots of parts in this sport are high priced and competition is a good thing to help bring prices down, but how is copying a part and selling it cheaper helping this sport? Change the design, make it better! Then sell it cheaper!

 

[WAB]

Sometimes the quality & fitment of the original manufacturer is not so hot either.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

right, the cheaper knockoffs, force the big manufactures to HAVE to provide better customer service, and maintain good quality control.

if they lack any of these things, they will quickly get over run with copycats.

 

[Scorn800]

There's whores in every business.
A good company knows how to sell it's service.

 

[Ericfox]

Along with good customer service... they should consider a bit less of a mark-up and better prices for shipping.

I mean... example: online store charges 188 shipped for MSD enhancer...

Some pwc places are charging 250-275 for the same product and then blasting you with a large shipping cost on top of that... I remember someone saying about the wamiltons freestyle volume 1 video... costs 22 bucks plus like 10 or 15 dollars for shipping??? scandalous...

and I know that shipping charge is supposed to include handling... but for something small like a video and other small items... throw it in an envelope/box, print a label and ship...should be like 5-8 dollars to ship something like that from coast to coast....

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

bingo,

and THOSE are the reasons that cheaper knockoff companies can sell parts.
the quality is close enough ( sometimes) and the price is generally better, and there is the feeling of NOT having that great customer support when you sometimes DO pay the markup and try and get it.

 

[SuperJETT]

innovation
service
quality
price

You really have to pick like 2 or 3 out of the above list, you can't have everything.

Here's my opinion/impression of some:
Wamilton's:
not so innovative, but great service, good quality, good price

Waterdawg:
great innovation, decent quality, good price, bad service

Blowsion:
good innovation, good service, good quality, good price, kind of balanced

24/7 (Chris Maros, before selling)
great innovation, good service, great quality, high priced

Watercraft Factory:
good innovation, great service, good quality, good price


Like I said, just my impression and it shows that you really can't have it all. You can try, but if you're really going to be innovative, that means you're going to spend time/money on new stuff which will drive up the cost of your production parts. If you're going to produce the highest quality parts, the raw materials and extra time involved are going to cost more. If you're going to give the best service, your labor costs are going to go up because you're taking extra time with customers. If you want to lower your costs, you have to cut somewhere, and it will be in the other areas.

It's Business 101, the consumer wants the best part at the lowest price, the business owner has to make money first and foremost, how they do it is up to them and what their priorities are.

 

[Ericfox]

This is a tough subject... because personally I think most of the companies named above charge too much for quite a few items.... but... on the other hand they have to make a living selling stuff to a small group of people that are really pationate about their sport/hobby....

I am cool with it more than some; perhaps because I am out of college and making a decent amount of cash...

I do feel good for buying things from those companies to support them SOMETIMES... but other times I think it is good to buy things from the average joe who is experimenting with making a copy of a part.... he might be the next big inventor when he starts getting ideas of how to change it and make it better...

 

[Vumad]

I love the knockoffs.

Stupid OEM parts are a rip off. I went to Kawi and they wanted $16 PER gasket (I needed the o-ring for flywheel cover and the metal exhaust gasket). I bought the entire gasket kit for $25.

The gasket doesn't cost $16. The mark up is HUGE. Some may argue they are recooping the cost of innovating the product, but it's OEM. They made their money when they manufactured the jet ski. They should make a few extra bucks off of their replacement parts, not rape loyal customers.

Sorry, but that's capitalism.

 

[Ericfox]

shiat... oem is a huge ripoff... I think most people were talking about knockoffs of things that are made by aftermarket manufactures... good call on the oem stuff though! $120 for hood seal? doh!!!!

 

[D Slicker]

If it wasnt for knockoffs where would china be today.

 

[Ericfox]

If it wasnt for knockoffs where would china be today.

It's a wonder why we havent seen a bunch of knockoffs for skis from China...

oh yeah... lead sinks

 

[WDKfan]

Dont forget about some of the "big" names ripping off parts and products from some of the smalle companies.

 

[Idok]

I love the knockoffs.

Stupid OEM parts are a rip off. I went to Kawi and they wanted $16 PER gasket (I needed the o-ring for flywheel cover and the metal exhaust gasket). I bought the entire gasket kit for $25.

The gasket doesn't cost $16. The mark up is HUGE. Some may argue they are recooping the cost of innovating the product, but it's OEM. They made their money when they manufactured the jet ski. They should make a few extra bucks off of their replacement parts, not rape loyal customers.

Sorry, but that's capitalism.

shiat... oem is a huge ripoff... I think most people were talking about knockoffs of things that are made by aftermarket manufactures... good call on the oem stuff though! $120 for hood seal? doh!!!!

OEM may be more expensive...but there are certain things where the OEM is ALWAYS going to be better..

gaskets and seals




OEM hoodseal for example.......start a thread asking what is the best...youre going to ge this answer EVERY single time..


Talk to team scream, LPW..any of those guys...they only use OEM seals and gaskets

there IS a reason for it :27:

 

[Ericfox]

yup... maybe oem is better... but it's still a rip-off!

 

[oxnard111]

OEM may be more expensive...but there are certain things where the OEM is ALWAYS going to be better..

gaskets and seals




OEM hoodseal for example.......start a thread asking what is the best...youre going to ge this answer EVERY single time..


Talk to team scream, LPW..any of those guys...they only use OEM seals and gaskets

there IS a reason for it :27:

stupid OEM hood seals. I need one to put back on my ski, but don't want to spend the money. I may try to re use my old one.

I can get them at my local dealer for $105.

 

[sjetrider]

you bored & just stiring shiot or what????